Drier device for boots and the like



Oct. 21, 1952 R. E. DARBO 2,614,337

DRIER DEVICE FOR BOOTS AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 18, 1950 Patented Oct.21, 1952 UNITED STATES rTEN'r OFFICE 2,614,337 DRIER DEVICE FOR BOOTSAND THE'LIKE Rolf E. Darbo, Madison, Wis. Application October 18, 1950,Serial No. 190,768

6 Claims.

This invention relates to drier for boots and the like and aims toprovide an improved and simplified device of this kind, for drying outwet boots and shoes.

The invention pertains to devices of this character which pass airtherethrough under pressure into the interior of the boot. An importantobject of the invention is the provision of means for insuring that theinjected air will be evenly distributed over the inner surface of theboot, thus enhancing the rapidity and efficiency of the drying operationwhile at the same time supporting the boot in its natural shape from theinterior thereof to prevent distortion or stiffening in the dryingprocess.

These and other objects and advantages will be apparent from thefollowing description, taken together with the accompanying drawings, of

illustrative embodiments of the invention, and

in which drawings- Figure 1 shows atypical boot to be dried and intowhich the device of the present invention may be inserted for thatpurpose;

Figure 2 is a plan view of one form of a device embodying the presentinvention;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the device of Fig. 2;

Figure 4 is a rear elevational view of the device shown in Figs. 2 and3;

Figure 5 is a vertical section taken on line 55 of Fig. 3, a portion ofthe boot of Fig. 1 for example being shown in broken lines and aircirculation being indicated by the arrows;

Figure 6 is a separated view showing a somewhat modified form of thedevice together with a blower and a conduit member connected therewith;and

Figure '7 is a fragmentary plan view of the device shown in Fig. 6 withthe conduit member indicated in broken lines.

Referring in detail to the illustrative constructions shown in thedrawings, and turning first to Fig. 2, the device may find embodiment ina boot or shoe form I I which as best seen in Fig. 3 is of somewhatfoot-shape having an entrance portion I2 that corresponds somewhat tothe ankle portion of a foot, and a discharge portion I3 that correspondssomewhat to the toe of a foot. The form II has a-passageway I4therethrough for the passage of air under pressure, as later moreparticularly described, and the passageway I4 is desirably progressivelyconstricted or tapered so as to somewhat compress or ofier resistance tothe air passing therethrough and thus tend to warm the air.

On its exterior, the form II carries projections in this instance suchas the fins I5, I6, I1 and I8. Desirably, and as here shown, the finsare disposed at ninety degree intervals around the "periphery of theform II and are curved to follow roughly thenormal interior contours ofa boot or shoe. At the toe end It or the form, the fins are shownprojecting beyond this end, while at the entrance end I2 theymayterminate short of or coincidentally therewith. The uppermost or top finI5 is curved downwardly at its extremity as at I9 to follow the toe ofthe boot and the'fin I! has a slight concavity as at 28 to accommodatethe sole of the boot. All of the fins at their extremities are desirablycurved as at 2% to adapt themselves to the toe. The fin i? is alsocurved as at 22 to adapt itself to the heel of the boot and to theheel-like formation 23 of the form I i itself. The fins are desirablytapered outwardly as at Ida to cover a minimum of area of the bootinterior.

It will be understood that in use the form I is inserted into the bootor other article to be dried such as the boot 2% and pressed thereintountil the toe portion is of the form is well received in the interiortoe portion 25 of the boot, with the heel portion 23 of the form snuglynested in the heel portion 26 of the boot. At this time, and as bestseen in Fig. 5, the fins I5, i5, Ill and I8 space the form proper fromthe interior of the boot so that air passages are provided between theform and the boot, and assure that the circulating drying air will reachevery part of the boot interior. Return air passageways lie between thefins.

When, now, a conduit such as the air hose '2? is inserted into theentrance end I?! of the device form, as indicated at 23 (Fig. 5), andair, either warm or otherwise, is injected under pressure into the formthrough the conduit, the air passes through th passageway It asindicated by the arrows 2S and emerges at the toe end I3. Since the finsproject beyond the form at the toe end, the air has free emergence fromthe interior of the form and thereupon passes back over the exterior ofthe form and through the return air passageways provided by the fins, asindicated by the arrows 343 between the form and the interior of theboot, and out through the top of the boot to rise as it is compressedand forced through the form and boot and this warm rapidly circulatingair will quickly dry the boot from its inside out, thus expediting thedrying action and preventing or minimizing distortion or stifiening ofthe boot. If desired, the air may be slightly warmed by separate means.

As seen in Fig. 6, an improved drying action may be obtained, as forexample, for low shoes, by providing perforations such as 32 in the formI la at places between the fins, and advantageously particularly at thecurve of the instep portion 33 of the form. Air injected through aconduit connected to the form will in part pass outwardly or beshort-circuited through the perforations 32 and exert a baille effectwhich will cause turbulence and improved wiping of the wet leathersurfaces in the vicinity of the perforations and thus accelerate drying.

Also as indicated in Figs. 6 and '7, the air may be supplied by a blowersuch as a hair drying blower 34 which has a rigid discharge pipe 35. Foradaptation to this .rigid pipe, a flexible conduit member 36may beprovided which again is-received in the entrance end 1212 of the formHa. To provide an ankle action, the entrance end [2a of the form .I lamay be made somewhat oval from front to rear so that when the flexibleconduit 36, which may be of rubber, is received therein, the form willhave a little give to it somewhat in ankle fashion, so as to facilitateinserting the form into the boot or shoe, or. conversely, putting theboot on the form.

To facilitate insertion of the air inlet conduit into the form andenhance the security of attachment, the upper edge of the entranceportion l2a of form I la maybe slotted at intervals as at 31. Thisconstruction is particularly desirable where the form is made of asomewhat flexible and springy material.

The device may be economically made of molded plastic, for example, inhalf sections, with the parting line along one side of the fins l5l1, asat 38. It can also be made of metal or other suitable material.

It will be appreciated that any suitable number of fins may be provided.If the form is to follow the normal interior contours of the boot orshoe closely to serve as a forming device as Well as a means fordistributing the air over the entire interior surface, it may bedesirable to employ a larger number of fins and shape their outer edgesto fit the boot or shoe more exactly. Where, however, it is desired tofurnish a single form to be used for a reasonable range of shoe sizes, aminimum number of fins are employed and they only roughly follow theshoe interior contours.

The invention having been described, what is here claimed is:

1. A drier device for boots and the like comprising a foot-shape formhaving a passageway therethrough, said form having projections extendingtherealong for spacing the form from the interior of the boot, at leastone of said projections extending beyond the form at the toe thereof,whereby air passageways are provided for the return path of air injectedinto said form.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein the projections extend fin-likealong the form and taper decreasingly toward their outer edges.

3. A drier device for boots and the like com prising a foot-shape formhaving a progressively restricted passageway therethrough, said formhaving projections extending therealong for spacing the form from theinterior of the boot, whereby air passageways are provided for thereturn path of air injected into said form, there being .perforations inthe form between said projections for short-circuiting air therethrough.

4. The structure of claim 3 wherein there are at least three projectionsspaced apart circum ferentially of the form and said projections extendbeyond the form at the toe thereof.

5. In a drier device for boots and the like, in combination, a somewhatfoot-shaped form having a passageway therethrough, said form carryingprojections on the outer surface thereof for spacing the form from theinterior of the boot, one of said projections extending beyond the format the toe thereof, and a flexible conduit member of elastomericmaterial received in the entrance portion of said form for makingconnection thereto of a pipe for air under pressure, the form beingslotted at intervals about the entrance portion to facilitate receivingand gripping said conduit member.

6. The structure of claim 5 wherein the entrance portion of the form isof oval shape and the conduit member has play rearwardly and forwardlyin said entrance portion.

ROLF E. DARBO.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 629,944 Witmer Aug. 1, 18992,018,406 Legge Oct. '22, 1935 2,076,785 Leindorf Apr. 13, 19372,444,195 Gruver June 29, 1928 2,446,234 Lieber Aug. 3, 1948

